Portable electric lamp



April 29, 1930. DQWNS 1,756,733

PORTABLEELECTRIC LAMP Filed Sept. 24, 1928 Patented Apr. 29, 1 930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN DOWNS, OF AC'ION GREEN, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WATTS FINGHEMZ AND COMPANY, LIMITEDQOF LONDON, ENGLAND ronrannnnnnc'rnrc m1:

Application filed September 24,1928, Serial No.808,003, and in Great Britain May 25, 1928.

This invention has relation to portable electric lamps intended for use in mines or other places in which explosive or combustible gases or vapours may be present.

The invention has for its object to provide improvements of such character and nature that the sealing of the openings through which combustible or explosive gas or va our could reach parts within the lamp'at which the gas or vapour could be ignited, is effected during assembly by the construction and arrangement of the parts.

The invention further has for object to provide improvements of such character and nature that a lamp can be readily dismantled for the replacement of a discharged battery or a faulty or burnt out lamp or the focusing of the beam of light and then quickly reassembled.

In the accompanying drawings, two constructional embodiments are illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view; and

bezel ring 12. The bezel ring 12 holds the glass or lens 13 and a parabolic reflector 14 in place, the ring acting on the peripheries of these parts. On the periphery of, and surrounding, the parabolic reflector; 14 is a U -shaped circular washer 15 which, when the bezel ring 12 is'screwed home,- forms a and the reflector 14 and betweenv the reflector washer 15 also insulates t "e reflector 14 elecgas tight joint between'the glass or lens .13

14 and the cell-containin member 11. The

trically from the cell-containing member 11.

19 which is mounted on the boss 18 and has an arm 20 which engages a slot 21 in the flange of the lamp holder 17.

The control of the lamp is effected by a switch consisting of a blade spring 22, one end of which is turned up to enter in an opening 23 formed through the wall of the cellcontaining member 11 and to be held therein as will be presently explained. Theblade spring 22 is adapted to be pressed against the back of the reflector 14 by switch actuating means comprising a press button or a thumb actuated slide 24 mounted to slide between'guides 25 on the exterior of the cellcontaining member 11 and having its under-' face shaped to cooperate with a push member 26 interposed between the blade spring 22 and the slide 24. The push member may comprise a plunger or, as shown, balls. The opening 23 is rendered gas tight by a hat shaped member 27 of india rubber having its flange or rim held by a screwed bush 28 to a seat formed in the opening 23. The oneend of the blade spring 22 is positioned between the seat and the flange or rim of the hat-shaped member 27 and is, therefore, also held by the bush 28. The space between the slide guides is closed permanently at one end by a stop 29 integral with the cell-containing member'll and at the other end by the bezel ring 12 so that the slide 24 can only be withdrawn or replaced when the bezel ring is removed. The bezel ring 12 is secured against unauthorized removal by a seal 30.

From theforegoing it will be seen that the inside of the torch is effectually sealed against the admission of gas or vapour.

In Fig. 3, parts having similar functions to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2 bear the same reference numerals. In the hand lamp illusill) I trated, the *cell-containin member 11..is switch, said mechanism accessible for oper- I closed by a cap 31 scr ewfe on to the end of ation at the exterior of the cell containing the member 11, packing 32 being interposech member, and an elastic electrical insulatin The cap is [formed or provided with an upand gas tight member mounted in sai ward and, forwardly extending tubular memwall over and closing the same around her 33 on which the bezel ring, 12, lass or said mechanism to prevent entry of gas lens 13 and parabolic reflector 14 an switch into the cell containing member, the

'22 are mounted as in Figs. land 2. In this said elastic member disposed between the arran ement, the switch actuating means'is switch and said actuating mechanism and locke by the bezel ring 12 and the bezel ring yielding and contracting asthe said mecha- 12 and the cap 31 are locked by a member nism is b erated to" actuate the switch.

34 which engages .therewithiand with the Datedt "s llthday of Se tember, 1928.

' cell-containing member 11. The member 34 J HN DOWNS.

is held-"in gosition by a screw 35 which enters the tu secured against unauthorized removal by a seal 30. g What Iclaim is 1. A- portable electric lamp comprising, a

ular member 33. The screw is so cell'containing member having a reflector I, mounted at one end thereof, a lamp holder mountedin the reflector, a switch mounted on and in electric connection with the cell containin member and adapted to be v actuated to ma e and break electrical contact with the reflector, switch actuating mechanism mounted on the cell containing member accessible at the exterior thereof for forcing said switch into'contact with the reflecw tor, and an electrical insulating and gas tight 1 elasticmemberinterposed between the switch and said 'actuatingmechanism to seal the cell containing member agamst passage of gas thereinto, the said elastic member yielding to permit operation of said mechanism to ac- 10o tuate the'switch, I

2. A portable electric lamp comprising, a cell containing member having a reflector mounted-at one end thereof, means sealing the joint between the reflector and said member, 5

' a lamp holder in the reflector in electrical I connection therewith, a spring switch mount ed inv the cell containing member normally out of contact with the reflector and adapted to be forced into contact therewith, switch ac- I i 11 0 tuating mechanism mounted in and extendmg through a side wall of the cell containin 1'- member for pressing against and forcing sai switch into contact with the reflector, said mechanism accessible and operable from the i Ill 7 exterior of 'thecell containing member, and

an elastic electrical insulatin and (gas ti ht member disposed between t e sai mec anism and said switch and sealing the cell containing member side wall at said mechanism, to prevent passage of gas therethroug'h', said 3 elastic sealingmember yielding and contracta mg durmg operation of said mechanism to actuate theswitch.

Ina portable electric lamp including a i l 1 I25 cell containing member, internal switch Q a in said memberfor makm' and breaking the ,c1rcu1t forthe lamp, switc actuating mechwall of said meiiilxar for operating said-- anism, mounted invandextending through a I CERTIii-ICATE or CORRECTION;

" Patentiio,1,756,733. w v cmmeaa n n,1930,10

I JOHN DOWNS.

'It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in the above numbered patent was erroneously written and printed as "Watts Finchem and Company, Limited", whereas said name should have been-written and printed as "Watts Fincham and Company, Limited", as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform t0 the record of the case in the Patent Offiee.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of July, A. D. 1930.

Win. A. Kinnan,

(Seal) y Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

